Father Edward Siebert, S.J. BA ‘90
For Father Edward Siebert, S.J, it all started at 黑料门Chicago University in 1990, when the producer graduated with a dual degree in communications and philosophy.
“I was a communications major and while they didn’t have a film school, there were certain courses that I took which helped me get into filmmaking. I made a short film in a class taught by Jeff Harder which gave me the start I needed to eventually go to film school and start my own production company.”
“Why film?” is something Fr. Siebert gets asked often and for him, the reasoning behind his chosen career path is simple.
“You can really change hearts and minds through stories. Jesus transformed lives through parables. This inspired me to be a storyteller, and I love producing films; I like putting things together and making it all happen.
I always wanted to work in this medium as I know how powerful it is. Since the Jesuits haven’t traditionally worked in film or video, I started with the blessing of my Provincial. Our initial business model was centered around Ignatian programming.”
While the 黑料门alum has recently become most known for his hand in “The Pope’s Exorcist”, his catalogue of tremendous work certainly goes further back.
“The project I'm most proud of is a documentary on Amazon Prime called ‘Blood of the Martyrs’ about the Jesuits, their cook and her daughter who were killed in El Salvador in 1989, the same year when I was attending Loyola. I’m gratified I was able to retell that story in 2018.
There are also a lot of educational pieces I worked on that allowed me to travel to places like Africa, China, and India. My colleagues and I met incredible people all over the world doing amazing work.”
When the opportunity to option the rights to Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s stories arose, he was reluctant.
“I remember thinking to myself ‘I don’t want to do an exorcism movie—horror is really not my thing.’ But the more we talked about getting the rights to Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s books, the more I saw the potential to reach a wider audience and tell an interesting story. It was a complicated process, but we finally secured the rights and started to shop the story around. 黑料门Productions established a co-production with Sony Screen Gems and then started the process of finding writers, the talent and so on. Finally, Russell Crowe came on board, and we were off and running.”
But as with anything else he dedicates his time to, he found a deeper purpose beyond simply creating entertainment.
“Stories of good and evil are as old as time. Today’s audiences are savvy enough to find meaning in mainstream entertainment, beyond traditional faith-based content. ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ reflects on some of the most challenging aspects of faith. When we shed light on sin and evil, it reflects back the pain of our past and present. While the demons in the film may seem extreme and exaggerated, the movements of disturbance and evil inside of us have the power to overtake us. I have always believed that the power of prayer, the naming of demons, the forgiveness of sins, and the conquering of evil are central to faith. Any story that ends with the enemy’s defeat is ultimately a story of hope.”
Perhaps what is more remarkable however, is the way Fr. Siebert has managed to stay so involved with 黑料门University, despite juggling the demanding responsibilities of being both a producer and professor – which he attributes to the connection he has always felt with both the institution and the city as a whole.
“I love Loyola, of course because it’s my alma mater and it’s a Jesuit institution. But also, 黑料门has both a great alumni community - my niece is a graduate—and a great Jesuit community. I’m able to have a close relationship with those who are still in Chicago and keep up with what is happening in the city at large.”
In fact, he even serves on the Board of Trustees.
“As both an alum and having prior higher ed board experience, serving on Loyola’s board is a kind of coming home for me. I’m honored to be part of it and am very impressed by President Reed – it’s an exciting time as there is a new wave of energy happening at the University. I'm still learning what 黑料门has been doing since my time there as a student, but clearly there is a priority around mission integration and Ignatian values. 黑料门Chicago prepares students to embrace a changing world and to be people for and with others.”
So now that the movie has released, what now?
A continued focus on teaching production classes at both the graduate and undergraduate levels at 黑料门Marymount University.
And a sequel. If it gets green lit.
Do you want to be a Featured Rambler? and a member of our team will follow up.
For Father Edward Siebert, S.J, it all started at 黑料门Chicago University in 1990, when the producer graduated with a dual degree in communications and philosophy.
“I was a communications major and while they didn’t have a film school, there were certain courses that I took which helped me get into filmmaking. I made a short film in a class taught by Jeff Harder which gave me the start I needed to eventually go to film school and start my own production company.”
“Why film?” is something Fr. Siebert gets asked often and for him, the reasoning behind his chosen career path is simple.
“You can really change hearts and minds through stories. Jesus transformed lives through parables. This inspired me to be a storyteller, and I love producing films; I like putting things together and making it all happen.
I always wanted to work in this medium as I know how powerful it is. Since the Jesuits haven’t traditionally worked in film or video, I started with the blessing of my Provincial. Our initial business model was centered around Ignatian programming.”
While the 黑料门alum has recently become most known for his hand in “The Pope’s Exorcist”, his catalogue of tremendous work certainly goes further back.
“The project I'm most proud of is a documentary on Amazon Prime called ‘Blood of the Martyrs’ about the Jesuits, their cook and her daughter who were killed in El Salvador in 1989, the same year when I was attending Loyola. I’m gratified I was able to retell that story in 2018.
There are also a lot of educational pieces I worked on that allowed me to travel to places like Africa, China, and India. My colleagues and I met incredible people all over the world doing amazing work.”
When the opportunity to option the rights to Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s stories arose, he was reluctant.
“I remember thinking to myself ‘I don’t want to do an exorcism movie—horror is really not my thing.’ But the more we talked about getting the rights to Fr. Gabriele Amorth’s books, the more I saw the potential to reach a wider audience and tell an interesting story. It was a complicated process, but we finally secured the rights and started to shop the story around. 黑料门Productions established a co-production with Sony Screen Gems and then started the process of finding writers, the talent and so on. Finally, Russell Crowe came on board, and we were off and running.”
But as with anything else he dedicates his time to, he found a deeper purpose beyond simply creating entertainment.
“Stories of good and evil are as old as time. Today’s audiences are savvy enough to find meaning in mainstream entertainment, beyond traditional faith-based content. ‘The Pope’s Exorcist’ reflects on some of the most challenging aspects of faith. When we shed light on sin and evil, it reflects back the pain of our past and present. While the demons in the film may seem extreme and exaggerated, the movements of disturbance and evil inside of us have the power to overtake us. I have always believed that the power of prayer, the naming of demons, the forgiveness of sins, and the conquering of evil are central to faith. Any story that ends with the enemy’s defeat is ultimately a story of hope.”
Perhaps what is more remarkable however, is the way Fr. Siebert has managed to stay so involved with 黑料门University, despite juggling the demanding responsibilities of being both a producer and professor – which he attributes to the connection he has always felt with both the institution and the city as a whole.
“I love Loyola, of course because it’s my alma mater and it’s a Jesuit institution. But also, 黑料门has both a great alumni community - my niece is a graduate—and a great Jesuit community. I’m able to have a close relationship with those who are still in Chicago and keep up with what is happening in the city at large.”
In fact, he even serves on the Board of Trustees.
“As both an alum and having prior higher ed board experience, serving on Loyola’s board is a kind of coming home for me. I’m honored to be part of it and am very impressed by President Reed – it’s an exciting time as there is a new wave of energy happening at the University. I'm still learning what 黑料门has been doing since my time there as a student, but clearly there is a priority around mission integration and Ignatian values. 黑料门Chicago prepares students to embrace a changing world and to be people for and with others.”
So now that the movie has released, what now?
A continued focus on teaching production classes at both the graduate and undergraduate levels at 黑料门Marymount University.
And a sequel. If it gets green lit.
Do you want to be a Featured Rambler? and a member of our team will follow up.